As we referenced on our last pod—Dreamcatcher—adaptations of Stephen King novels range wildly in their quality. Doctor Sleep, fortunately, continues their recent upward trend.
As a sequel to The Shining, Stanley Kubrick's beloved 1980 film, as well as a translation of King's source, it had big shoes to film. It does so more than admirably. Credit to director Mike Flanagan for that seamless combination. Flanagan, a rising star in the horror genre, was handed the reigns to Doctor Sleep after experiencing critical success with another King work (Gerald's Game). It's safe to say that the expectations for this movie were high—particularly after It: Chapter 1 and 2 grossed over $1.1 billion combined at the box office.
Here comes the unfortunate part. Despite glowing reviews (77% on Rotten tomatoes with 317 counted) and the backing of the audience (89%), Doctor Sleep mustered a disappointing $72.3 million on a budget of $55 million, apparently scuttling plans for a sequel.
We, as a pod, can't stress this enough. Watch this movie. In fact, if you've never seen The Shining, watch them both. Doctor Sleep compliments its predecessor perfectly and is a love letter to the world that King created and Kubrick altered. When you see what Flanagan and his team were able to accomplish with this film, there's no doubt you will want to see more of his work.
So sit back, inhale the delicious scent of a Nosferatu Red Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company like it's Steam, and get lost in a hedge maze! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, Chumpzilla, and Mayor McCheese are doing our best to stave off drinking in a haunted hotel.
This Week’s Segments:
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You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music!
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The Blackening – Enter the Game Room
Any Given Sunday – Steamin’
Dazed and Confused – L-I-V-I-N!
The Replacements – Chicks Dig Scars
The Faculty – Skat Man
Heavyweights – We’re Feeling Skinny, Tony
Wet Hot American Summer – Show Us the Fever
Indian Summer – Dirty Dogs
Sleepaway Camp – Dude Looks Like a Lady
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – One Last Ride
Mac and Me – We’re Not Loving It
Heartbeeps – Request for Humor Denied
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace – Cast It into the Sun
Tiptoes – We Know What We Are!
Fast X – You Made One Mistake ... You Never Took Our Mics
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Declawed
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